BSTI strengthens anti-adulteration drive ahead of Ramadan: Amu

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DHAKA, May 15, 2018 (BSS) – Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) and Dhaka district administration have intensified their anti-adulteration drives through mobile courts across the country to ensure safe food during the holy month of Ramadan, said Industries Minister Amir Hossain Amu here today.

“BSTI has assured the participation of its prosecuting officers in the mobile courts run by Dhaka district administration, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) and Armed Police Battalion (APBN),” he said in a media briefing at his ministry conference room.

Apart from Dhaka city, Amu said, the anti-adulteration drives would simultaneously be conducted at different upazillas across the country, including Keraniganj, Savar, Ashulia and Dhamrai.

He said that regional offices of the BSTI would conduct anti-adulteration drives at the district and upazila levels.

Amu said BSTI had already collected samples of 286 food items, largely consumed during the fasting month of Ramadan, from the markets for tests to ensure their qualities and check adulteration.

“We have already received the reports of 175 samples. Out of the samples, 139 have been found okay,” he added.

He said BSTI will monitor factories of bottled water across the country through high-powered surveillance teams aimed at ensuring safe drinking water during the Ramadan.

He added that businessmen involved with food adulteration should abstain from the malpractice as it could also harm their own family members.

Mentioning that BSTI conducted a total of 382 mobile courts till 13 May, 2018 from July, 2016, the industries minister said during this period, nearly Taka 1.52 crore has been realized as fine.

Besides, 28 organizations have been sealed on the charges of adulteration, he added.

Additional Secretary of the Industries Ministry M Dabirul Islam, BSTI Director General Sardar Abul Kalam and senior officials of the ministry were present at the briefing.